The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-02-03

statute authorizes. in effect local as
sessment. AMI does not prescribe a public
TAX, IN the sense of the Constitution and
that local assessments are not necessarily
connned to particular real property to be
affected by them favorahly, in contempa-
ton of law
The third was the Durham Graded
School case-94 n. c. Reports-in which
it was decided:
That "a Law which directs the tax
raised from the polls and property of
| white persons to be devoted to sustaining
schools for white persons. and that raised
from polls and property of negroes to be
used tor the support of their schools, is
unconstitutional and void"
Commenting on this Maj Finger says:
''There are quite number of graded
schools IN the State that are affected by
this decision, because the special acts un-
der which they are operated contain pro
visions under which money derived by
taxation from white persons is applied eX-
cluslvely To white schools, and thai from
colOred persons, to colOred schools Some
of these schools have already been discon-
unued, while others are sustained by
private donations, awaiting some favor
able legislation. So far as the late de
clsiOnS above referred to are concerned
find an lntimation by the Court in Puett
v Commissioners, "a n. G. Reports page
719, as follows: 1T is not, therefore,
every distinction dependent upon race or
color, that comes in conflict with the + cd
eral Constitution, but only when it pro
duces inequality in rights and interests;
and when this is the result, the State
legislation from which it flows. is rendered
imperative. When the same essential
privileges are secured to all, such leg.sla-
ton is valid, and rests in the sound dis
cretion and views of public policy of those
who made the law" | am led by this
declaration to suppose that any amend
ment to the Graded School laws which
would contemplate an equality of length
of school terms for both races, such as
they need, would be sustained by the
court. | beg to refer to Sec. 6, Chap 141.
laws 1885, which seems to be in accord
with the declaration of the court Indeed,
| think it is we'll settled law, that public
school money may be applied per capita
upon the school census, per capita upon
the average attendance, or in any way, so
that equality Of school facilities NAV be
afforded"
The following recommendation by Supt.
legislators
We specially need regular Normal
School for white teachers, III which ler-
sons who have elsewhere acquired far
knowledge of the branches usually taught
IN the public schools may get the best
possible instruction in the science and his
tory o education and in methods. Such
an institution should be SO conducted that
those " no bn
would have time to hold county Institutes
for from two to three months per annum
This would bring normal instruction, in a
uniform way, down to all common school
teachers who might not be able to attend
the Normal School, and it would be a long
step toward securing uniformity in the
grades Of teachers certificates
! think that it may be assumed that
some community will furnish the build
ings; if SO, ($lO,OOO) ten thousand dollars
per annum would establish and sustain
the school. We are now spending for
County Institutes almost half this sum,
which, upon the plan suggested, would be
saved, because the professors would be
paid salaries at the institution for all work
there and at these Institutes Many young
ladies are pressing their way into our
school rooms as teachers, but the State
has, as yet, not provided any institution
in which they may prepare themselves for
their work While | would have such an
institution open for males and females,
think it of prime imi ortauce for females
They are specially fitted by natural en-
dowments for teachers; surely the State
ought to afford them opportunity fol
preparation for their work. This would
IN fact be the peoples college, because oI
its direct and wide influence upon all the
children